We all leaped into action.
First, we members of the Occult Research Club and student council were to guide the children, their parents, and the teachers to a temporary shelter in the school’s basement. Anticipating the worst, Chairwoman Sona had seen that a sturdy shelter was constructed deep beneath the school grounds.
Her attention to detail was beyond impressive. There was plenty of space to spare, so we invited the townspeople to evacuate as well.
At present, everyone on campus was busy guiding the civilians to safety.
“So the evacuation is already under way,” Sairaorg said to Rias over magic square. The video was slightly glitchy, probably a result of the Shien flames.
“It isn’t a big town, and there aren’t too many residents. Three hours should be enough to get everyone to safety.”
“Have you found any way to get out?” Sairaorg asked.
Rias shook her head. “The town is surrounded by a ward, separate from the one covering the area around Agreas. We’re also boxed in by those Shien flames. We tried to make an escape route, but we only managed to pierce a hole in the barrier and the flames for a split second before it closed again.”
Xenovia and Rossweisse had attacked the ward and Shien flames surrounding the town with the Ex-Durendal’s cannon fire and Rossweisse’s curse-lifting spells, and while they managed to break through, the opening snapped closed before giving anyone a chance to escape. If we could hold it open, even just for ten seconds, we might be able to get out some of the townspeople, but we weren’t having any luck there…
Xenovia tried digging under the ward…but the flames extended deep underground.
In other words, escape seemed to be out of the question. It didn’t help that the mages weren’t able to use their magic abilities. If not for that snag, we might have been able to combine teleportation spells to bypass the wards…
We were all set. The mages from the conference were applying every dispelling technique they knew to create a new form of teleportation magic in the school’s underground shelter. It was a crazy feat to attempt, but they were all experts in their field, so success wasn’t necessarily out of the question.
It sounded like it would only take a couple of hours to set up the spell to teleport the townsfolk and the children to safety. Until then, our task was to keep the Evil Dragons at bay and protect the town.
Sairaorg breathed a sigh. “Same here. We can break through the ward surrounding Agreas, but any hole we tear in it repairs itself in moments. At this rate, we won’t be able to get anyone out of the city… And we’re already surrounded by Evil Dragons.” He showed us a live video feed.
—! Rias and I couldn’t believe our eyes.
It was like the sky was covered in a pitch-black cloak draped over the floating city.
…A swarm of mass-produced Evil Dragons…! There had to be at least a hundred—no, two hundred—of them!
…At the center of the swarm, hovering right in front of the city, was a particularly sinister-looking three-headed dragon, held aloft by six massive wings… Its glossy black scales radiated a purplish hint, standing out among its black, mass-produced counterparts.
…So Azhi Dahaka was headed for Agreas? Even Vali’s team had struggled against him. He wasn’t the kind of foe you wanted to go toe-to-toe with.
“We have my Familia, along with Seekvaira Agares and her people. And Diehauser’s team is here as well. We won’t go down without a fight.”
Sairaorg’s, Agares’s, and Emperor Belial’s Familias were on the defense. It was certainly a formidable combination.
“Seekvaira has stepped in to represent the archduke, taking charge of operations here in Agreas. She’s quite capable. She somehow managed to convince the mayor and those stubborn old committee members to put her in charge through this crisis.”
Seekvaira? She had given off a scary first impression all right…
“…We went to all that trouble setting up Team DxD, and we’re the only ones who can respond to this,” Rias fumed in frustration.
Sairaorg flashed her a bullish smile. “Not at all, Rias… We’re here. That’s better than nothing.”
He was right about that. We would be much worse off without him or the others.
“This is the moment of truth, Issei Hyoudou,” he said, looking me straight in the eye. “We have to save Agreas, the town, the children—everyone.”
“…These kids don’t have anything to do with Trihexa or Qlippoth’s agenda, do they?”
“No.”
“They just came here carrying their dreams in their hearts, right?”
“Yeah.”
“…Then Team DxD should do everything it can do protect them, shouldn’t it?”
“Of course. Protecting the hopes of the underworld is our job. We can’t let any of them perish. And we can’t let these bastards get away with it. We’ll take them all down. That’s the lot of those who hold power!”
…He hit me right in the heart with that speech. I couldn’t have said it better myself.
I was so glad we made this team, DxD! It was reassuring to know we had like-minded friends fighting alongside us!
“We’ll find a way to help you once we’re done over here, so hold tight.”
“Sure thing! And we’ll head your way if we manage to get out!”
Minute by minute, the coming battle was closing in.